Rôle des processus naturels dans la constitution du site épipaléolithique et néolithique de la Duchère à Vaise (Rhône)/Epipaleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic occupations of the site of La Duchère at Vaise (Rhône) : the role of natural processes in the formation of the site

摘要

Epipaleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic occupations of the site of La Duchère at Vaise (Rhône) : the role of natural processes in the formation of the site. Archaeological excavations at Vaise (Lyon, France) have revealed an Epipalaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic site located on a terrace of the Saône river. The artifacts are included in the argillic horizon of a paleosol developed on loessic materials and buried under a Gallo-Romanish colluvium. The artifacts form a 60 cm thick sheet on average. The upper part of the sheet is mixed with fragmented Neolithic pottery and displays scarse anthropic structures (pits and gravel heaps). Mixing of Epipalaeolithic and Mesolithic artifacts in some areas, lack of refittings together with geomorphological evidence such as debris flow deposits containing artifacts and thin local levels of artifacts corresponding to a sedimentary bedding show that the whole sheet comes from the reworking of a previous Epipalaeolithic and Mesolithic site located upslope. The deposits form the substrate of a diffuse Neolithic occupation. Small charcoals collected in the argillic horizon have given three 14C dates between 4000 and 5000 B.P. This suggests that reworking was due to Recent Neolithic forest clearances. However an area has yielded probable remnants of a in situ Mesolithic occupation at the base of the paleosol, about 20 cm under the main artifact sheet. These lithic and bone remnants are dated of about 9500 B.P. and likely correspond to a settlement at the periphery of the main site.